“The Canterbury Tales,” written by English poet Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, is a popular literary work that is taught in some schools.
The tale begins with 24 pilgrims traveling to Canterbury to visit the shrine of a martyr known as Thomas Becket. In order to pass the time, the group decides that they all compete to tell the best story, causing each pilgrim to offer up their own tale.
These tales range from a man’s endeavor to discover what all women want most to three men trying to kill Death.
The Jennings County Company will portray Lindsey Price’s adaptation of “The Canterbury Tales” at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Jennings County Middle School, 820 W. Walnut St., North Vernon. The adaptation features only eight of the pilgrims and their respective stories.
“It has something for everyone. It has slap-stick, romance, comedy, tragedy. It has just about everything, and most of the stories have their own moral, director Sandra Eikelman said.
For two of the main characters, the reeve and the pardoner, the play is their first major production and acting role.
Joe Loner, a senior at Jennings County High School, said that he liked having a role.
“It’s fun getting to play a bigger part in the production,” he said.
Previously, Loner has acted as an extra in “The Matchmaker” and as a townsman in Ghost Walk’s “Bloody Mary.”
The play is the first time on stage in a full-length production for Brandon Adrian, an eighth-grader at Jennings County Middle School.
“The new experience is nerve-wracking, but exciting. The character is fun to play because I can really see myself as such a person in the future,” Adrian said.
Tickets cost $4 for adults and $2 for students. Snow dates for the show are Feb. 23 and 24.
Ashley Browning is a senior at Jennings County High School.
